COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

ALERT - COVID-19 - Do not travel overseas at this time. Due to the difficulty travellers are experiencing returning home, New Zealanders overseas need to take steps to stay safely where they are and shelter in place....Read more

ALERT - COVID-19 - Do not travel overseas at this time. Due to the difficulty travellers are experiencing returning home, New Zealanders overseas need to take steps to stay safely where they are and shelter in place....Read more

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Do Not Travel overseas at this time

We currently advise that all New Zealanders do not travel overseas at this time due to the outbreak of COVID-19, associated health risks and widespread travel restrictions. Due to the difficulty travellers are experiencing returning home, New Zealanders overseas need to take steps to stay safely where they are and shelter in place.

Countries and territories around the world are imposing strict travel restrictions. Many air routes are no longer viable. The options for New Zealanders to return home have reduced significantly. The Government is committed to helping New Zealanders overseas where we can. The international situation is complex and changing quickly, and some things are out of our control. Government assisted departure (repatriation) flights should not be relied upon to get home.

We recognise that not all New Zealanders who want to return home are able to do so. New Zealanders who cannot return home for the time being should take steps to stay safely where they are.

Please note that in some cases the ability of the New Zealand Government to provide consular assistance may be limited due to restrictions on movement and other services.

Consider whether you have access to health care and support systems if you get sick while overseas. Be aware that you may be placed in quarantine, be required to self-isolate or be subject to strict movement restrictions. Your travel insurance may be affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. Contact your travel insurer if you have questions or concerns about whether you are covered by your insurance policy for any potential COVID-19 related expenses. Make sure you can access money to cover emergencies and unexpected delays.

Our 'Do not travel' advisory applies to all overseas destinations. If you choose to travel despite our advice, our individual destination pages remain an essential of source of information on specific risks and contact information in that destination.

Advice for New Zealanders currently overseas

Our most up to date advice on returning home can be found here. For information on border restrictions see the Immigration New Zealand website and factsheet on COVID-19. You can also call Immigration New Zealand on 0508 225 288 (within New Zealand) or +64 9 952 1679 (outside New Zealand).

About COVID-19

On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization was informed of cases of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan City. Hubei Province, China. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.

New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm on Wednesday 13 May. For more information on what this means, visit the New Zealand Government’s dedicated COVID-19 website.

Please see the Ministry of Health website for guidance on prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment of COVID-19. This also includes advice for travellers. If you are looking for advice about self-isolation requirements, please call Healthline on 0800 611 116 (available within New Zealand only). If you are outside New Zealand, please see the Ministry of Health website.

Information on cruises

In line with our global travel advisory - do not travel overseas at this time - New Zealanders should avoid taking an overseas cruise at this time due to COVID-19. The virus can spread quickly on board cruises due to the close contact between passengers. Some cruise ships have been put into quarantine and denied entry to ports, which can have significant consequences for travellers. If in doubt, consult a medical professional before travelling.

If you choose to go on a cruise despite our advice and you're concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on your plans, please contact your travel agent or cruise operator for specific information. Please also check the Australasia website of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which outlines the protocols they put in place for the health and safety of cruise passengers and crew in response to COVID-19. All CLIA member cruise lines are required to implement these protocols.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not provide immigration advice for entry to other countries and territories. The border authorities of the country or territory you are travelling to determine your eligibility for entry. If you choose to travel despite our advice, consult the official website or the nearest embassy/consulate of your country or territory of destination to find out about any border controls that may apply to you before travelling.

Pacific Island countries

Pacific Island countries have been introducing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to their countries. If you choose to travel to Pacific Island countries despite our advice, check the entry requirements for each destination before travelling.